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Once upon a time, there were two islands, both a few acres in size, and both sitting just off shore of a deserted, mainland beach. Both islands were about the same size, being north and south from each other. On these islands lived two boys, one boy on each island. They both had their own island all to themself, complete with enough area and vegetation to provide all their needs for living. They both had a small forest, providing wood for building, and fuel for fire, as well as a number of types of fruit for food. They both had enough basic tools to build what ever shelter they needed, or to fish the shores. They both had everything they needed to live a long and healthy life on their private islands, in the big blue ocean, under the warm tropical sun.
Each boy would spend his day working, playing, sleeping, eating, or sometimes just laying around on the beach watching what the other boy was doing from across the short distance that seperated the islands. They both would sometimes watch the shores of the empty mainland, spying an occational dog or wild pony moving slowly across the rocky beach.
The boy on the north island was named Pro, and the south island boy was named Con. Pro would often wave at Con, but Con never waved back, being too afraid that if they became friends, and got to know one another, Pro may try to hurt him some how, or maybe steal something off his private island. Pro would wave and smile almost every day, but Con would just lower his head and pretend not to notice.
Both boys would fish during the day, and gather fruits from the trees in the evenings. Pro always liked to offer some of the fish he caught to the many sea gulls that flew the shores, but Con didn't want to waste any of his hard work on the noisey birds. The gulls gradually learned where they would be welcomed with gifts of food, and soon the north island became the only island the gulls would visit. Pro laughed at the graceful gulls as they swooped and played along the beaches of the north island. Con looked on for awhile, but would then return to his own activities by himself. Pro was happy to be with his feathered friends, and Con was happy to have his quiet.
Pro also like to share his fruit with the ocean perch that swam just off shore, but Con didn't want to waste any of his precious food with the slimy ol' fish. Pro would wade out into the blue-green waves, and toss small bits of bananas, coconuts, and papyas to the shimmering perch that swam around his legs and tickled his feet. Con watched from the distance, but turned away if he thought Pro had seen him. Soon, all the fish knew where they were welcomed with offerings of food, and the north shore became swarming with an abundance of fat, healthy fish. Pro was happy to swim and play with his slippery sea friends, and Con was happy not to be bothered with the smelly schools of fish.
Pro tried a time or two to swim over to Con's south island to visit, but each time Con would see him coming, and go hide deep into the trees and undergrowth. Pro would try to find Con, but he would always be forced to give up and swim back to his own island.
Then, one day, both boys notice a group of people moving about on the mainland shore. There were only a few people at first, but soon a steady flow of people began to gather around the beach area, just across from the two islands. Both boys watched with great interest at all the different people. There were young and old, men and women. They all began to settle into groups, building fires, and cooking strange food that both boys could smell from where they watched. That first day, the people sang and danced long into the night. Pro wished he could be with them, and Con hoped they would stay away.
Over the next several days, the new beach settlers began to build their homes, and establish a small village. Pro became much too curious of the strangers to simply watch from his island, so he began swimming toward the mainland shores to go meet the people. Con watched from behind the trees on his private island. He saw Pro reach the mainland shore, and he watched as the village people came out onto the beach to meet Pro. They all welcomed Pro with great enthusiasm. They offered Pro some of their food, and the other children played along the beach with Pro before he finally had to go back to his island.
The next day, Pro decided that he wanted to be able to go see the people any time he wanted, and for them to come see him too. So, he began to cut down some of his trees in order to build a bridge over to the mainland. Con, too, began to cut down trees, but he didn't want a bridge. He was planning to build a big wall around his island to make sure no one could swim out onto his island. He didn't know who they were, or what they were like, and he didn't want to risk them hurting him, or stealing off his island.
Both boys worked hard for the next few weeks, cutting trees and halling the logs into place. Pro worked each day, building his bridge closer and closer to the mainland people. Con worked long into the night placing log after log into the huge barrier wall that slowly began to surround his entire island. Soon, Con had finished his wall which had only one small door that he could open when he needed to get out to fish. Pro, too, finally finished his bridge, and soon he was able to easily walk over to the mainland to visit his new friends, and they too, began to used Pro's bridge to visit him on his island.
Pro learned many new things from all the village people. He learned new games from the children, and how to cook and sew from the women. He learned how to plant and grow new foods from the men of the village, and the elderly people would tell long, interesting stories to Pro while sitting around an open camp fire. There were new things to see and learn almost every day for Pro, and he was happier than he had ever been before.
Con felt safe and protected behind his great barrier wall. It stood so tall that he couldn't even see the mainland, or the new people that he feared. He couldn't see Pro or his island either, but that was okay, since he had never really planned to get to know him, any way. Con gradually began to just sit in his hut to pass the time. Most of his trees were now gone, and the great blue ocean was out of sight behind his wall. Only an occational gull would catch Con's eye as it flew overhead on it's way to the north island. Con wondered sometimes what it would be like to be laughing and playing like Pro with the other people, but he kept telling himself that he was much safer and better being protected behind his island barrier.
Time passed, and both boys grew into men. Pro still spent most of his time with the mainland people as the little village grew larger through the years. Con continued to stay secluded behind his barrier wall, never talking to anyone, and seldom even going beyond the small door in his great wall, which always remained locked.
Years and years when by, and eventually Pro and Con passed away from old age. The village which had grown into a town by now was no longer on the mainland beach, but several miles inland for protection against storms. The islands, and the mainland beach were once again quiet.
One day, a large ship anchored off shore, and while the captain and crew rowed ashore to do trade with the towns people, a couple of deck boys from the ship swam out to the islands to explore. The long wooden bridge which Pro had built many, many years before had long since weathered and vanished. As well, the huge barrier wall which Con had build had rotted and fallen during some of the strong tropical storms.
Stopping on the south island first, they discovered what was left of Con's rotted house, deep within the undergrowth. The bleached bones of Con still remained on the floor in the corner of hut where he had eventually died. The two visiting boys felt sorrow from knowing what it must have been like for this person, who ever he had been, to have lived such a sad and lonely life... living and dying all alone, with no one to know or care.
Next, the two boys from the ship visited the north island, where they found a huge memorial stone placed at the highest spot on the island, in the middle of a large green clearing. Fresh colorful flowers were placed all around the stone, and it was obvious that someone kept the place up on a regular basis. The boys were amazed by the beauty of the north island with it's great memorial stone, and they moved in closer to read what was carved on the side.
~ In loving memory
of PRO,
who built a bridge
into our hearts...
where he shall
forever remain
with love. ~
SOME BUILD BRIDGES...
TO LIVE AMONG FRIENDS.
SOME BUILD BARRIERS...
TO PASS AWAY IN SOLITUDE.
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